Queensland Grouper

The giant grouper, also known as the Queensland groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland, Australia. It can be found from near the surface, usually around 3m, to depths of 100m. It can grow up to 9 feet (270 cm) long and weigh up to a huge 880 pounds!

It eats large a variety of animals including small sharks and rays, young sea turtles, fish of all sizes, crabs and spiny lobsters. Groupers "lurk and lunge" when feeding. Hiding in a cave or under a big table top coral, it then waits for its prey to pass by. Then the grouper jumps out and slurps up the animal into its big mouth before the prey realises what’s happening!

Things to Do

Watch these giant fish drift across our ocean tank

Find out where he likes to live

Guess how big he is

Find out what his favourite food is

Find out about the threats that face these giant beasts

The grouper can open and close its mouth so quickly that the human eye can not even detect the movement.

Queensland groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites meaning they start their lives as females then later change their sex to males.

Juveniles have irregular black and yellow markings. Adults are green-grey to grey-brown with faint mottling.
The grouper can open and close its mouth so quickly that the human eye can not even detect the movement.
Queensland groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites meaning they start their lives as females then later change their sex to males.
Juveniles have irregular black and yellow markings. Adults are green-grey to grey-brown with faint mottling.